Since the dosages
of the various nutritional supplements to be recommended will vary with age,
weight, and gender, as well as with nutritional status, please consult with
your personal physician before embarking on a rigorous dietary-supplement program.In addition to a nutritious diet, both
exercise and a proper mental attitude are critical elements in combating
sickness and disease, while still helping one to operate at peak performance.None of these recommendations are intended
for use by persons under 18 years of age.Neither are they for pregnant or nursing mothers.If you are taking prescription medications or
have been diagnosed with a particular disease or illness, again consultation
with your personal physician is necessary.This white paper has not been reviewed by the Food and Drug
Administration. None of the products or supplements described below are intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent a specific
disease.

Furthermore, we feel it is highly desirable for each person to
measure his or her initial oxidative-stress-level before embarking on a major
program of antioxidant vitamins.Not
only will this will help to establish a base line for supplementation, it will
permit you fine tune your program over time.This can be done simply with a urine and/or
blood sample mailed either by express or overnight mail.Please consult with one of the
Clinical Laboratories listed in
Appendix F for proper methods.

I originally prepared this revised "short list" of
nutritional and life-style recommendations at the urging of numerous friends
and colleagues who have asked me for information regarding the vitamin and
life-style choices that I formulated for myself and my family over the last
three decades.I have called this set of
recommendations the Bridge Plan because it is intended to ‘bridge’ us
safely into the next few decades when we believe that more effective means will
become available to extend human lifespan significantly based on stem-cell and
genomic-engineering technologies.

There has been a
dizzying array of breathless newspaper headlines, health-related magazine stories,
and even peer-reviewed articles in medical journals over the last ten years,
all originating from the trenches of nutritional science [121].The problem is that many of the claims are
mutually contradictory.“Compound X” will
help you.“Compound X” will hurt you.So, what are we to believe? At the end of the
day, one learns to be highly skeptical of anything that scientists are saying.

One of the
reasons for the confusion was recently uncovered by Greek researcher John
Ioannidis who estimates that 80 percent of all epidemiological studies report
results that are “due to chance,” not due to a real, underlying
cause-and-effect relationship [127].The
problem is methodological.Observational
studies based on retrospective data in which subjects or patients could have
been self-selected tend to bias the results In favor of a particular
intervention.Also, sifting through data
selectively, discarding data that is inconsistent with a particular hypothesis
can cause problems. That’s why a
subsequent placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized clinical trial reported
by others (the gold standard) can be inconsistent with some earlier
observational studies.

Nevertheless, I have generally tried to follow four guidelines in
my selection of dietary supplements for myself, my family, and my
patients:

1.We have reason to believe, based on empirical
data, that the supplement will actually do some good (this may include either
anecdotal evidence or a rigorous clinical trial);

2. Even if not scientifically proven, there is a proposed mechanism-of-action
or suggested hypothesis that explains the observed positive effects;

3. There is evidence that the supplement is non-toxic for
humans,at least in the range of dosages
being considered (therapeutic index)(even water when drunk to excess can
be toxic!) and that any excess beyond that utilized by the body for beneficial
purposes gets excreted, i.e., doesn't accumulate dangerously;

4.The supplement is
affordable (it’s not going to break the bank.).

Seven additional guidelines that should be taken into
consideration include the following:

1.Has the given study been
replicated by others?

2.What was the size of the
effect being reported?

3.Was the result merely a
proportional trend or was it statistically significant?

4.What was the power of the
study (the size of the population studied)?

5.What was the duration of the
follow-up?

6.Are the findings internally
consistent based on tight confidence intervals?

Doses are among the most controversial aspects of prescription
writing and nutritional recommendations. In order to maintain proper health and
well-being, everyone will agree that a wide variety of nutrients are needed,
but consensus as to how much of each and in what form is difficult to achieve.
Opinions vary from those practitioners who feel that all drugstore supplements
are a waste of money, assuming of course that one eats a well-balanced diet, to
those who take supplements by the carload (so-called "megadoses").There is little or no valid scientific
evidence to support megadose claims, such as made by longevity-authors Dirk
Pearson and Sandy Shaw [24].Here,
scientific comparisons between species gets a bit murky, since a dose that
works well in a mouse may or may not be linearly related to benefits obtained
in humans per kilogram of body weight, possibly due to idiosyncratic variations
in rodent physiology, even acknowledging that we both belong to the
"mammalian" family.The late
Linus Pauling was considered to be an "old quack" by some regarding
his use of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), since he recommended (and took
himself) 10 or more grams every day!The
jury is still out on such a high dose, but we shouldn't forget that Dr. Pauling
(double Nobel Prize winner) had always been a controversial character
throughout his distinguished careers at both CalTech and Stanford Universities,
and he has frequently been proven correct over time on other matters
[9].

After many years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has
formulated what is referred to as the RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance)
oriented toward the avoidance of clear pathological states rather than the
amounts needed to maintain optimal health. Therefore, the average adult, even
though not suffering from a specific disorder, should observe all RDAs and
then some. The chart of recommendations listed above should be thought of
as a guideline. The amounts listed are safe (will not cause toxicity), but may
be varied according to an individual's size, weight, gender, and health status.
All other things being equal, and in the absence of specific laboratory blood
chemistries, those who exercise heavily need higher doses. Also, those who are
under great stress, on medications, on restricted diets, bed ridden, females on oral contraceptives or pregnant, recovering from
surgery, smokers, heavy drinkers, etc. may need greater or lesser amounts of
certain vitamins and minerals.

It is suggested that you
take nearly all your supplements at the same time each day with a regular meal
to establish a pattern.The fat-soluble
vitamins A, D, E, and K are more readily absorbed with food.When traveling, you need to prepare
collections of pills, labeled day-by-day, for as many days as you expect to be
away from home.I generally place all
opened vitamin bottles in my refrigerator to keep them away from children and
to preserve freshness.

All of the vitamins or hormones listed below, with certain
exceptions as noted, are typically available inexpensively from local drug stores(or health-food stores) in your home
neighborhood. Others, however, may need to be special ordered (See source where
noted) or obtained under a physician’s prescription.However, prices are widely variable, even for
an identical product.Shop around at
different stores, and only buy supplements when they are on sale.When buying by mail-order over the telephone,
make sure you ask AIs this your best price?@You may be surprised to find that simply asking can help lower your
costs.A month’s full supply of
antioxidants may cost $40.

4. Vitamin
E (Alpha-Tocopherol) [400-800] iu [international units](Antioxidant)[A
mixed tocopherol including both alpha and gamma [230 mg] forms has been
recommended by Prof. Bruce Ames of UC Berkeley as superior to either alpha or
gamma alone.] Early anecdotal evidence from large observational studies showing
that Vitamin E might reduce the risk of heart disease or protect against cancer
has not held up under the closer scrutiny of randomized clinical trials. The
August 13, 2007 Archives of Internal
Medicine [122 - 124] reported that 8,000 women with an average age of 61
involved in a study over nine years did not benefit from taking Vitamins C, E,
or Beta Carotene.Scientists had
previously thought that these antioxidants benefited the heart by counteracting
free radicals that can damage artery linings, encourage blood clots, and
otherwise alter the function of blood vessels. A 1988 epidemiological study in
more than 21,000 Finish men found that 40 percent with the highest blood levels
of alpha-tocopherol had a 36 percent reduction in the risk of developing
cancer.But a seven-year randomized
trial published in 2005, of more than 700 patients with Vascular Disease or
Diabetes Mellitus, found no protection from cancer from a 400 iu daily dose. [125]. Because these studies involved
high-risk populations or had other limitations, the possibility that these
vitamins may provide some protection has not been completely ruled out. On the
other hand, most experts no longer recommend taking Vitamins C or E supplements
for heart or cancer protection.

5. OmitBeta-Carotene (Vitamin A
precursor) 25,000 iu (Antioxidant) Current nutritional research is filled with
gaps and contradictions; e.g., a 1994 study showed that, in Finland, cigarette
smokers were more likely, not less likely, to develop lung cancer when
taking Beta Carotene.Nevertheless, benefits
for nonsmokers are undisputed, but, of course, none of our readers are smokers.
Therefore, one could either take or omit this supplement.

6. OmitSelenium [50-200] mcg
[micrograms] (Antioxidant)(Shown to protect against lung, colon, rectal, and
prostate cancer, as well as Diabetes Mellitus.)

It has long been recommended that 200 micrograms of the
mineral Selenium every day as a dietary supplement should lower one's risk of
Diabetes. Now, according to an article appearing in the August 21, 2007 issue
of The Annals of Internal Medicine,
the opposite may be true [114].1,250
persons who took 200 mcg qd of this mineral for seven years in a randomized,
double-blind, placebo-controlled study were seen to have a 50 percent higher
risk of Type-2 Diabetes [115, 116].

We are therefore withdrawing our
prior recommendation to take daily Selenium supplements until further notice.
Although no single study can provide a final answer, there is enough concern
that we should all stop talking this mineral for the time being.

We all know that Chromium is an
essential ingredient of our nutritional profile, but Chromium Picolinate [200 -
500] mcgs qd no longer makes sense as a GRG-recommended supplement based on
newly-discovered scientific data.The
claims made by the health-food industry (with an obvious self-interest in
selling us their products, but no funds to perform double-blind clinical trials
to support their position) has told us for decades based on anecdotal and
epidemiological evidence...

(1)
90 percent of us don't get enough Chromium in our normal diets;

(2)
It reduces appetite;

(3)
It breaks down fat;

(4)
It causes weight loss;

(5)
It adds muscle; and

(6)
It turns sugar into energy;

However, all of these claims are now
shown to be false based on a placebo-controlled clinical trial by the US
Department of Agriculture [Journal of Nutrition] of 83 women for 12 weeks [117].
"Chromium is an essential nutrient, but supplements won't help anyone lose
weight or build muscle," said Henry Lukaski, a U.S. Department of
Agriculture researcher who specializes in dietary trace metals. "People
are using this doggone stuff with high hopes, and it's not working."
Lukaski and his colleagues recently put chromium supplements to a rigorous
test. They kept 83 women on carefully controlled diets for 12 weeks. About half
of the women also received 200 mcgs of Chromium each day, while the other women
took a placebo. As reported earlier this year in the journal Nutrition, the
women taking Chromium didn't lose more weight or gain more muscle than the
women taking placebos. Many other studies have reached the same conclusion:
Chromium supplements don't have any effect on weight loss.

Believers might claim that Chromium
only works at doses much higher than 200 micrograms. But more isn't better,
says John B. Vincent, a Professor of Chemistry at the University of
Alabama.

Rat
studies conducted by Vincent and others show that even massive amounts of
Chromium --

far more than a person taking supplements would ever get -- won't
speed weight loss.

Chromium is generally considered
safe in amounts of up to about 1,000 micrograms (or 1

mg) a day, but doses higher than that could be risky, Vincent says.
Chromium is an oxidant -- the opposite of an antioxidant -- and large doses
could potentially damage cells and even DNA. Indeed, there have been scattered
reports of liver and kidney damage in people taking more than 1,200 micrograms
of Chromium each day for months at a time.

According to Vincent, claims of
widespread chromium deficiencies are "absolutely false." In reality,
he says, about 98 percent of all Americans get at least 30 micrograms of
chromium each day, putting them in line with recommendations from the Institute
of Medicine (IoM). Chromium is found in grains, beans, peas, meats, red wine
and many other foods and drinks.

8. Omit Vitamin B6
(Pyridoxine HCl) 50 mg (Antioxidant) [as this dose tends to accumulate over the years, it
has been found to cause peripheral sensory neuropathy.Extra B6 has also been found to in ]

12. Calcium l,000 mg (Oyster Shell), especially useful for females
susceptible to osteoporosis. We suggest increasing the dose to 1,500 mg for
post-menopausal women not on ERT (Estrogen Replacement Therapy) along with 800
iu of Vitamin D(ordinary multivitamin
tabs contain only 400 iu)(Calcium supplements have been shown to prevent
osteoporotic bone loss by 1/3 to 1/2 in a placebo-controlled study with 122
women over 2 years.) (The Lancet (August 25,
2007) recommends Calcium at 1,200 mg Calcium and Vitamin D 800 iu in a review
of 29 randomized trials, including more than 63,000 men and women older than
50.) [129]

13. CoEnzyme
Q10 [60 - 120] mg (Ubiquinone)(Antioxidant)[11].
(CoQ-10 is found in mitochondria, as part of a unique metabolic pathway that
synthesizes ATP, the body's general-purpose energy molecule at the
cellular level.CoQ-10 is reputed to
benefit the immune system [12], allergies, asthma, respiratory and heart
diseases, duodenal ulcers, and also serves to prevent some types of cancer. We
have observed statistically significant increases in average life-expectancy in
rodents on CoQ-10 [13], but a dose-response curve for humans has not yet been
established)(Typical Food Sources: salmon, sardines, and mackerel; Supplements
available from Twin Labs, Natural Life, or NOW Natural
Foods)

16.
Flax Seed Oil 1-2 tablespoons per day (cold-pressed unrefined)(obtainable in black [opaque] plastic bottles in the refrigerated
section of your local health food store [not available in regular
supermarkets].It must show a "date
of pressing" and a four-month"date of expiration" listed
on the bottle.It is light yellow in
color with a slightly nutty flavor.Keep
it refrigerated at all times.I use
Barlean’s at
a cost of $7.95 for an 8 fl. oz. bottle.)(Function: Flaxseed [Linseed] Oil
rebalances the ratio of Omega-3 to Omega-6 fatty acids in your body, since this
particular oil has the ratio of 3:1 while almost all other processed
vegetable/cooking oils are in the reverse ratio).

27.IP-6 (Inositol Hexaphosphate). A
natural B vitamin supplement derived from corn or wild rice indicated for
reduction of risk of cancer from all causes. Take IP-6 1-2 capsules as a NK
T-cell immune boosterfor those who have a family history of cancer and wish to take a
preventative agent.

29.
Acetyl-L-Carnitine
(ALCAR)([500 - 2,000] mg)(a powerful Antioxidant;
Sigma Tau, Inc.)(The principal mechanism of action is to facilitate the
transport of free fatty acids through mitochondrial inner-membranes to
facilitate the synthesis of new ATP [the application of 1 micromole of ALC to
mitochondria increases oxidative activity 260 percent], although there are
other mechanisms as well, such as improving cognitive function in Alzheimer’s
patients.)

30.
DHEA (DeHydrdoEpiAndrosterone) or DHEA-s (DHEA-sulfate) 50 mg qod
(every other day); (est. $5.00 per month; although DHEA was remarkably
difficult to obtain as recently as five years ago and could only be gotten from
a few compounding pharmacies around the country, it is now available in all
health food stores without prescription in either pill form or even as a gum.)At age 25-30, levels of DHEA peak and then
begin to decline.By age 75, levels
decay exponentially to 80 percent of youthful levels. This steroid promises to
boost libido for both men and women, as well as prevent atherosclerosis, some
cancers, and memory loss; it also builds muscle and bone mass, reduces obesity,
and strengthens immunity [68-70].As a
supplement, this hormone, has only one precaution: potential androgenic
conversion means that men with a history of prostate gland problems should have
their PSA level checked before starting on DHEA (A home saliva test-kit for
DHEA levels is now available for $30.00; Call Life Enhancement Products, Inc.
of Petaluma, California at 1-800-543-3873).In the latter part of this year various patented formulations of DHEA
are expected to come out on the market, and a more precise dose recommendation
will be made at that time.(See the
Newsletters in Appendix A for future announcements.)

31.
Pregnenolone,
[10-30] mg qod (est. $7.00 per month).Pregnenolone is synthesized from cholesterol within many different
tissues, particularly including the adrenal glands, the brain, and the
skin.As a hormone, it is similar in
many respects but not identical to DHEA, for which it is an immediate
precursor.It has been studied since the
1940s, and human and animal studies have found virtually no adverse side
effects after pregnenolone supplementation, even after very high doses for long
time periods.However, extra caution
must be observed by those choosing to take Pregnenolone and DHEA concurrently,
since they are both on a common biochemical pathway that synthesizes many other
steroid hormones downstream, and they may have synergistic or antagonistic
effects not proportional to their individual dosages.This steroid is sometimes called a
neurosteroid, since brain tissue contains very high levels.Indeed, improved memory and cognitive
thinking in humans and animals has been associated with pregnenolone
supplementation.It also improves sleep
patterns and psychological mood.It has
been especially good for arthritis patients. Studies from the University of
Massachusetts found better performance in healthy young subjects being tested
in flight simulators.Like DHEA,
pregnenolone appears to maintain the body’s resistance to stress.

32.Melatonin,
[0.5-3.0] mg; take each night just before bed time, not two hours
before.(Antioxidant[44-47]).Enhances immune function, but also acts as a
natural sleeping pill.See Ref. [5, p.
57] for dosage information. For those few who experience Arebound
insomnia@ on melatonin (waking up ready to go at 4:00 AM), you may wish to
consider the time-release version (See Emerald Labs: 619-930-8078). Melatonin
is especially valuable in cases of Ajet
lag@ or whenever traveling across major changes in time zones.
According to Prof. Russel Reiter at the University of
Texas in San Antonio, human studies have suggested that melatonin can reduce
tumor growth and prolong survival, and by boosting the natural production of
glutathione and SOD, it is an unusually potent immune system stimulator.

33.ZincGluconate Lozenges,
OTC treatment for the "Common Cold"; 13.3 mg six-times-a-day;
Physicians at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio recently found that
patients sucking these lozenges suffered cold symptoms for half as many days as
did untreated individuals (average 4.4 days instead of 7.6 days for
controls).For example, Cold-Eeze
Ionic Zinc Lozenges taken within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms was shown to
provide relief and reduce the severity and duration of symptoms by 42 percent[Journal of International Medical Research, Vol. 20, No. 3 (June
1992) and Annals of Internal Medicine, Vol. 125, No. 2 (July 1996)]. How
this compound works is not yet clear.However, in vitro, zinc can, among other flu-fighting
activities, impair viral replication.In
vivo, it is proposed that zinc coats mucous membranes and presumably helps
to block viral penetration by reducing membrane stickiness.

34.SAM-e (S-AdenosylMethionine)
[200 - 400] mg per day best taken on an empty stomach 30 minutes before a
meal.First discovered in Italy in 1952,
S-AdenosylMethionine 1,4-butanedisulfonate is the most
stable form of SAM-e, and is involved in transmethylation.It is important for joint health, mobility,
and joint comfort, as well as liver function, mood, and emotional well
being.

35.Curcumin
(Turmeric) 400 mg (useful in the prevention of Alzheimer’s
Disease – Curry is heavily used for cooking in India, and the incidence
of Alzheimer’s is much reduced per capita. [118])

36.
Lysine (Amino Acid) [1 - 3] gm per day for a few days for the indication of
cold sores or fever blisters on the lips secondary to Herpes Simplex-1 Virus.Proposed Mechanism: Arginine appears to be
required exclusively by the virus for its replication, while lysine
competitively inhibits the supply of arginine.Lysine seems to reduce flare-ups and severity and reduces healing time
for herpes blisters. There may be side effects associated with long-term
administration, however, including gallstones, or elevation of
cholesterol.

Based
on the latest studies implicating excessive iron in increased risk of heart
attacks, we have withdrawn our previous recommendation that menstruating women
take a multivitamin with an iron (Fe++)
supplement. Except in conditions of pregnancy or heavy bleeding, the
risk of Iron Deficiency Anemia is actually negligible compared with the risk of
iron accumulation (hemosiderosis and its associated cardiac side
effects). Indeed, donating a pint of blood each year for both men and
women may not only be humanitarian for the potential recipient, it may be
beneficial for the donor by reducing the load of excess iron in the body.

According
to the latest studies, we strongly recommend ERT (Estrogen/Progesterone
Replacement Therapy) for postmenopausal women, not just to end the discomfort
of "hot flashes," but more importantly to achieve significant
protection against osteoporosis and heart disease.The benefits of hormone replacement outweigh
the risks to such a degree that treatment should even be contemplated in women
with a family history of breast cancer.What was learned from the WHI (Woman’s Health Initiative) trial,
however, is that one should never wait for a few years before starting on
Estrogen replacement for the first time.The KEEPS Study (Kronos Longevity Institute of
Phoenix, AZ) is currently underway to prove this point once and for all.The route of administration (pill vs. patch)
is important to the so-called first-pass effect (through the liver).The type of estrogen (bioidentical)
is also critical.See your personal
gynecologist for more details.The
herbal Black Cohosh
(often called Black Snakeroot), a
member of the buttercup family, has been recommended to ease the discomfort of
hot flashes.Enzymatic Therapy claims
that its own proprietary extract called Remifemin has been shown to be effective in clinical trials.
[128]

HRT can be inhibited by 27-HydroxyCholesterol
(27HC).When estrogen levels fall as
happens in menopause, 27HC is able to beat the hormone to the targeted
receptors and block its beneficial effects.As reported in the journal Molecular
Endocrinology, 27HC acts in a different way in breast tissue, activating
estrogen receptors that promote tumor growth. [130]

For
women suffering from a lagging libido and energy loss, adding Testosterone
(Yes, women have Testosterone as well as men) is indicated.Possible side effects range from oily skin,
acne, and body hair growth, as well as a possible increase in the risk of heart
disease.Even though there is now
substantial evidence from clinical trials that it works, the debate over safety
is still continuing.(See
below.)

After
age 50, if cholesterol > 180, Aspirin 325 mg qod (every other
day)(anti-platelet/anti-clotting)(Halfprin, enteric coated aspirin, 165
mg qd is recommended for those with pre-existing stomach problems, which are an
occasional side effect of aspirin in its pure form.)

For men aged 60 and above,
Testosterone
(by prescription) for increased well-being, libido, muscle strength, bone
hardness, and achieving significant drops in LDL and total cholesterol levels.
Routes of Administration: Testoderm from Alza [approved by the FDA in
1993] is a nonadhesive transdermal patch applied to the skin daily;
BioTechnology General is working on a testosterone wafer that will dissolve
under the tongue and be quickly absorbed into the
blood stream; endocrinologists are also testing a chewing-gum tablet at Johns
Hopkins University.A month’s supply is
about $[25 - 40].

Also
for men over age 60, Deprenyl(Eldepryl)(Selegiline
Hydrochloride) 1 mg may be taken daily. Although Deprenyl is a prescription
drug specifically indicated for Parkinson's Disease,
it can help stabilize memory loss in geriatric patients in general (proposed
mechanism = SOD [Super Oxide Dismutase] enzyme antioxidant). Note: Deprenyl is
readily available over-the-counter in Mexico, and many persons routinely travel
to border cities to legally acquire a three-month supply for personal use
[14].

Regular
blood donations to the Red Cross or any convenient hospital in your area, at least
one pint (unit) annually, are also a good idea, as indicated above.

A
standard children's chewable (as tolerated) from ages 2 to 10 is sufficient.Of course, it is assumed that everyone's
water supply contains Fluoride, essential to the proper hardening of
teeth.Otherwise, a supplement is
required (tablets or drops).It's never
too early to have dental checkups in anticipation of potential future
problems.Immunizations are described on
p. 19 and in Appendix E.

rhGH is an expensive anti-aging intervention, and the FDA has
explicitly excluded all off-label prescriptions other than for the original pediatric
indication for hypopituitary dwarfism (children destined to have extremely
short stature) or “AIDS wasting” and specifically disallows treatment for
"growth hormone deficiency" in older normal adults.In our view, the potential side effects of
excess hGH(acromegaly) are overrated when
taken only in “replacement doses.”Conversely, the benefits, based on controlled clinical trials sponsored
by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), were disappointing when they are
announced in the Summer of 1998.The real barrier for a new geriatric
indication is that it's an injectable protein with upscale prices ($[800 –
1,000] per month). These costs have not fallen rapidly as expected, as the
current U.S. suppliers (Genentech, Inc. with 70% of the market and Eli Lilly
with the balance) attempt to meet competition from European suppliers
(Bio-Technology General Corp. and Novo Nordisk, AS (Denmark)), who were
expected to get FDA approval to market in the U.S.Also, we should note that Merck is testing a
non-peptidal oral agent (MK0677) to stimulate the pituitary into releasing more
hGH, but this compound has never been submitted to the
FDA for human clinical trials. (See Chapter 21, [72] for more details.)Peptidal secretagogues of growth
hormone, like hexarelin (a hexapeptide), are encouraging and may be
considerably less expensive in the future. Sermorelin
may be even more effective, as it is closer to the native GHSH. None of the recent data about hGH, however, convinces us to believe that it should be
indicated for anyone except those who have a demonstrable reduction with
respect to age- and gender-matched controls for this hormone.The latest rodent experiments lead us to the
conclusion that GH can in fact be a life-shortening rather than a
life-lengthening hormone, even though it may make patients feel better in the
short term.

Glutathione
is a natural antioxidant synthesized by the body that is now alleged to be
contained in a chewable tablet that will not be easily destroyed by stomach
acid.ThiOTabtablets also contain Xylitol, a
sugar-free sweetener, known for its beneficial oral and dental hygiene
properties (distributed by Thione International of Atlanta, GA 30305).We are still awaiting scientific
documentation.

Centrophenoxine
(Lucidril)(Reverses some brain aging and decreases lipofuscin formation in
neurons), BCE-001; Hydergine (Very safe Ergot Alkaloid)(Increases
metabolic efficiency in the brain leading to increased blood supply, and
therefore protects against hypoxia; decreases lipofuscin formation);
Vasopressin (Diapid)[nasal spray](memory); Piracetam (Very
safe; claimed to increase left/right hemispheric transmission in the brain,
across the corpus callosum; claimed to help with Alzheimer’s
Disease, especially when combined with choline), L059; Metformin
(Phenformin, Buformin), Dilantin (Diphenylhydantoin, DPH)(Normally thought
of as an anticonvulsant, but has other properties); Aminoguanadine (blocks
formation of Advanced Glycosylation Products, AGEs); Quercetin; and RU-486
(Normally thought of as an abortifacient, but has other important
properties), Bromocriptine (increases dopamine); Pimagedine (a
new solvent for the breakup of AGEs [Advanced Gylcosylation End-Products], Dr.
Richard Bucala, Picower Institute for Medical Research in New York).

Kava; Shitaki Mushrooms; Echinacea; Pantocrinum
(deer antler velvet); cordyceps; galanthamine (bulbs of
daffodils).With sales of $300 million
annually, echinacea doesn’t prevent the common cold after all.As reported in the December 3, 2003 issue of
the Journal of the American Medical Association, in a study of 707 upper
respiratory infections in more than 400 otherwise healthy kids aged[2-11] years in the state of Washington, not
only did echinacea fail to make a dent in their illnesses, it also produced
more skin rashes than a placebo!We have
only recently learned that Saw Palmetto does not reduce the symptoms of Benign
Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH) in men as had been claimed for decades by the
health-supplement industry [120].

Various
popular Amino Acids, like Glutamine, Arginine, L-Ornithine,L-Cystine,
Phenylalanine, Methionine, L-Tryptophan, L-Tyrosine, etc., are not
recommended at this time, since one probably gets adequate levels of these
amino acids already, assuming a normal health status and diet.However, Amino Tropin 6, a patented
combination of the nutrients GABA (Gamma Amino Butryic Acid, a known
neurotransmitter substance), Arginine, Lysine, and Xanthinol
Nicotinate (a B Vitamin), may have potent
growth-hormone-releasing effects and must be studied further.The problem is to distinguish between
statistically-significant
increases, as published in the scientific literature,
and clinically-significant increases for humans having a normal health
status and diet and without simultaneously undergoing protein
restriction.

According
to the Mayo Clinic, the belief that shark cartilage contains a protein
that inhibits tumor angiogenesis has now been shown to be false [29].Sharks do get cancer, just like any other
animal, contrary to the advertising claims we have seen for this product.

A
Harvard School of Public Health Health-Professionals Follow-up Study of nearly
31,000 men ages 40-75, who have been followed for four years to ascertain the
role of nutrition in determining blood pressure, has found that those who
routinely ate little or no fruit had a 46 percent greater risk of developing
high blood pressure than did men who ate the equivalent of at least five apples
daily. Indeed, fiber from fruits seemed to be more beneficial than that from
vegetables or cereals. The other nutrients tested made little or no difference,
including fats, alcohol, sodium, potassium, and magnesium.

Citrus
fruits not only contain Vitamin C and folic acid, but also coumarin and
D-limonene believe to protect against cancer.Green leafy vegetables, like spinach, contain lutein which guards
against chromosomal damage.Orange
vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin, as well as fruits like
cantaloupe, papaya, and mango contain beta carotene, a precursor of Vitamin A
that promotes normal cell differentiation.(Recall that Vitamin A taken in great excess can be toxic, but there is
no corresponding toxicity for excess beta carotene.)Tomatoes contain lycopene, giving them there
rich red color.Indeed, there may be
over 100 carotenoids in fruits and vegetables that play some role in fighting
cancer.

Cruciferous
greens such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, or Brussels sprouts (brassicae)
contain organo-sulfur compounds that help detoxify carcinogens that also
protect against cancer.Allium-based
vegetables, including onions, garlic, scallions, leeks, and chives, inhibit
bacteria in the stomach and reduce the formation of cancer-causing
nitrosamines.Soybeans contain an array
of cancer fighters, including isoflavones, saponin, genistein, and
phytoesterol.In countries like Japan,
the low rates for certain cancers may be attributable to this where soy is a
dietary stable.Finally, many fruits and
vegetables contain Vitamin E, selenium, and flavonoids, compounds that have the
ability to pump carcinogens out of cells and normalize cellular
proliferation.Five servings of fruits
and vegetables a day is the best nutritional strategy, since foods seem to work
best together.

Amid
all the interest in the medicinal benefits of food, we should never forget that
plants synthesize these chemical defenses for their own selfish benefit; but
there is no reason why we shouldn’t exploit them for ours.Fruits are plants’ adaptation to the presence
of animals in the same way that pretty colored flowers are plants’ adaptation
to the presence of insects in the environment.This heuristic is generally true with the obvious exception of poisonous
mushrooms, which have adapted with a different agenda as a defense against
being eaten.

No
Butter; No Margarine; No Hydrogenated Oils (Palm, Cottonseed, Coconut,
etc.In particular, never eat
movie-theater popcorn popped in coconut oil.It's like eating three days worth of fat in one sitting!).

Average less than
2,000 Kcal for "the standard 70 Kg man."All calories are equivalent.A tuna fish sandwich made with mayonnaise
purchased in a health food store may actually be worse for your heart than a
hamburger with mustard or ketchup bought at a MacDonald’s
Restaurant.If you are overweight and
think you need to diet, calculate your BMI (Body Mass Index) [BMI = Kg/(m)2]. First measure your weight (in pounds) and
your height (in feet/inches) (your height squared is proportional to surface
area), and then look your BMI up in the table below.

If your BMI >
30 [or > 25 if accompanied by one of the following: High Blood Pressure,
Diabetes, Coronary Artery Disease, Hyperlipidemia, or Stroke] then you
definitely need to reduce your caloric intake and/or increase your exercise
program.As BMI increases, so does blood
pressure and total cholesterol, while the level of HDL (good cholesterol) tends
to decline also.You should weigh
yourself monthly, preferably on the same bathroom scale. If you are not
maintaining at least a four-pound-per-month weight loss, your regimen is not
really effective and you should stop fooling yourself.That's when you need to go see your physician
or get some professional help.

Interestingly, one or two glasses of
wine (either red or white) per day at the beginning of a meal have been shown
to be beneficial to one's heart; obviously, other alcoholic beverages (beer,
spirits) are to be imbibed in moderation.Never take more than a few ounces at any one sitting.Needless to say, never ever drive when
intoxicated, even if only a little bit.

All
tobacco products are absolutely contraindicated in any form, including
cigarettes (low tar/filter brands provide no real protection), pipes, cigars,
snuff, and chewing tobacco. There exists a nicotine-based chewing gum to help
break this unsavory habit. Studies have revealed that cigarettes are insidious
instruments for the delivery of nicotine by way of the lungs to the blood
stream where it is unconsciously titrated by the
addict to a "therapeutic" concentration. Of course, it is extremely
dangerous to smoke while simultaneously wearing a nicotine-replacement transdermal
patch.Even slight exposure to
"second-hand" smoke has now been shown to be deleterious to one's
health, not just for the child-to-be of a pregnant mother.

Coffee,
Tea, and Soft Drinks (Coke, etc.) are acceptable in moderation. Studies have
shown a positive correlation between coffee-drinking and alertness with few
side effects. Use "decaf" after dinner if "regular" coffee
keeps you up.

Speaking
of tea, we should not neglect to mention that green tea, derived from the dried
leaves of the evergreen shrub Camellia sinensis, long-time favorite in
the Orient, but gaining popularity in the West, contain polyphenols (Phenol
EpiGalloCatechin Gallate [EGCG]) alleged to prevent cancer, protect your heart
from atherosclerosis, lowers serum cholesterol and triglycerides with improved
HDL/LDL ratios, exhibits antioxidant properties, decreases hypertension,
possibly due to the sedative action or the neurotransmitter GABA (Gamma Amino
Butyric Acid), is an antibacterial (cholera and typhus), decreases tooth decay,
and is an antiviral (influenza).The
antioxidant effects of green tea don’t rely on caffeine, since neither coffee
nor caffeine alone provide the same benefits.Neither are other teas as good as green tea.Oolong tea is semi-fermented, while
traditional black tea is "fermented" through a non-alcoholic process
to convert the tannins contained in the leaves, and in this process something
is lost.

Try
to minimize multiple prescriptions. At least one physician must be aware of all
your "meds" so as to minimize side effects. Furthermore, do not allow
obsolete prescriptions to accumulate in your medicine chest; instead, just
throw them away when.

Obviously,
children need pediatric care to get their routine periodic vaccinations (DPT
[Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis {Whooping Cough}], OPV [Oral Polio], MMR [Measles,
Mumps, Rubella {German Measles}], HepB [Hepatitis B], Hib [Haemophilias
influenzae Type b], BCG [Tuberculosis], Chicken Pox [The FDA has approved
the Merck vaccine and it is now routinely available], etc.) and to make sure
they fall within the standard growth profiles for height and weight. Pregnant
females obviously need prenatal care, including special vitamins and a couple
of routine ultrasounds. Otherwise, however, we don’t
believe that healthy young adults really need to see a doctor every year. On
the other hand, after age 50, one should check with one's family physician on a
regular basis every couple of years or so, to measure blood pressure and so
forth. A standard laboratory blood screen and stool sample for occult bleeding
is also useful. A blood screen may detect lab values outside normal
physiological limits (modulo lab error) for one's age (not just outside
clinical limits for pathology).As
mentioned earlier, this is recommended for fine tuning the doses of one's
dietary supplements. After age 50, getting a Flu Vaccines is
increasingly important.Males: A
rectal exam for early detection of prostate cancer (a new laboratory test that
compares the free and bound levels of PSA will prove increasingly important); Females:
Annual PAP smears after age 21 as well as biannual mammograms (or even every
three years) after age 50.

Seventy-five
percent of adults in our country will be affected by bleeding gums secondary to
gingivitis in their lifetime. An antibacterial mouthwash (Scope, Listerine, etc.)
should be gargled/swished at least twice a day (bid) and three or four times a
day (tid or qid), if possible, in addition to dental flossing once a day, and
brushing after meals, while at home.An
anti-plaque rinse post-flossing is urged (e.g., Oral-B).Prophylactic cleaning by a professional
dental hygienist to remove plaque build-up should be done twice a year without
fail.

Keep
standard $5.00 first-aid kits handy-- Put at least one in your bathroom
medicine chest and others in the glove compartments of your car(s).Get training in CPR, if possible.
Learn the Heimlich Maneuver (anti-choking).In California, the Poison Control Center
is at 1-800-876-4766.

Schedule
time in your day for moderate daily exercise, required at least five days per
week (30 min. per day of increased cardiovascular exertion with pulse > 100
bpm); walking, swimming, tennis, aerobics, etc., but not golf(too little exertion) or jogging (too
much joint stress). One must perform substantial exercise at least once a week
(weight lifting, nautilus machines, etc.). A standard weight-lifting training
bench is sold for $[150-200].A stair
master or treadmill can be bought for $[400-900].A complete home gym that allows two persons
to work out simultaneously can be had for $1,000.For someone who would benefit from tracking
their pulse while exercising, a heart-rate monitor, which can be worn like a wrist
watch, can be purchased for $99.Calculate
your BMI (Body Mass Index) in kilograms per (meter squared) from the Table
above.Obesity is defined as a
BMI >= 30, which translates as [20-30] percent over ideal body weight.Obesity will increase morbidity and mortality
(five years off your expected life span).Between [1970 - 1990] there has been a
consistent increase in the percentage of Americans classified as obese, which
has now reached an alarming 33.4 percent of the general population. $[30-40]
billion is spent on weight control in the U.S. alone.Some people will deliberately raise their
blood pressure and consume extra gas as they compete (like vampires) for a
close-in parking space in the local shopping mall.After all, it may save them a few walking
calories.

Western
Civilization is the main culprit contributing to this disease process, a side
effect of our sedentary life style with its unprecedented proliferation of
calorically-dense foods.There is a
[20-50] percent genetic penetrance or susceptibility to gain weight by eating
in the presence of excess food, whether one is hungry or not (satiation
signals, if any, are ignored).Recall
that these genes were selected for during the legacy of our hunter/gatherer
past, when it was advantageous to feast, since famine could always be just
around the corner."Gathering"
consumes fewer calories than "hunting," but the density of calories
in berries or nuts is less than that of meat, and human males and females
specialized in these occupations, respectively.If you really care to get into the details, but don’t want to be weighed
both in air and submerged in water, a Total Body Fat Analyzer can be purchased
for $180 (it is basically a fancy scale that calculates body fat in seconds
using a patented foot-pad design).

Unless
otherwise contraindicated by a physician, for the sake of optimal health, the
frequency of sexual intercourse should on the average be daily (not
weekly), with appropriate (HIV negative) willing partner(s).(Of course, partner [singular], rather
than partners [plural] is to be preferred for the sake of reducing
emotional stress.) The adjective "willing" in the above
characterization of partner is equally important. "Willingness" may
be a matter of degree, while "unwillingness" is not.However, the time of day-- morning, noon, or
night-- is completely unimportant.In
our view, there is no reasonable excuse for the observed decline in the
frequency of sexual intercourse with age (probably laziness).Most importantly, there is no requirement for
orgasm by either partner, and such cannot count as an excuse for multiple days
of abstinence-- the proverbial "Not tonight Dear...
I have a headache." Also, please do not fall into the trap of perpetually
striving for "simultaneous orgasm," a largely mythological quest that
can significantly interfere with an otherwise good relationship.

A
recent survey of American sexual behavior performed by researchers from the
University of Chicago [25] has shown that, despite the media sizzle, most
Americans have sexual intercourse an average of once a week, and they
are largely monogamous.Indeed, less
than one-third of Americans aged 18 to 59 have sex with a partner more than twice
a week.From the point of view of
optimal health, this is far too little.

On
the other hand, in the absence of a willing partner for sexual intercourse,
masturbation may be more healthful than pure abstinence.In the December 1997 British Medical
Journal, Dr. George Davey Smith of the University of Bristol studied 918
male residents from the Welsh village of Caerphilly between the ages of 45 and
59 over a ten-year period.The men were
divided into three groups, including (1) those who engaged in sexual
intercourse more than twice a week; (2) those who engaged in sexual intercourse
less than once a month; and (3) those who fell somewhere in between.At the end of the study, those men who had
sex less than once-a-month were twice as likely to die over the follow-up period
as those who had the most frequent sex. Men in the intermediate group were 1.6
times as likely to die.Attempting to
establish a "cause-and-effect" relationship between the frequency of
sex and longevity may be difficult, however.It may well be that those men who had sex more often were healthier to
start with and therefore destined to live longer than the other groups.Nevertheless, there is plenty of reason to
believe that safe sex does promote overall longevity, and it is to be
recommended in whatever form.

How
can you tell if you're under stress? You may be the last to recognize it. Your
friends and family may see its effect on you long before you do. Signs are
difficulty in sleeping, changes in eating habits, increased use of drugs, alcohol,
cigarettes, chronic irritability, short-fused anger, increased anxiety, and
frequent physical complaints.

Stress
is defined as the feeling of tension or pressure that naturally
accumulates in everyone's life. How you handle it determines the extent of the
negative effect it can have on your health and happiness. We all fail exams at
school or get negative progress reports from time to time. Look at it this way:
"If you can't point to a recent failure, you're not functioning up
to your full capacity!"

11.
Do you feel unusually anxious when driving on freeways (especially during rush
hour)?

12.
Have you had a divorce or custody battle recently (last five years)?

13.
Have you moved to a new location recently (in the last year)?

14.
Have you changed jobs recently without an increase in salary (last 6
months)?

15.
Have you been involved in an automobile accident recently (last 6
months)?

16.
Have you been involved in a law suit recently (in the last 6 months)?

17.
Have you been hospitalized for any reason or had a diagnosis of a chronic
medical condition recently (in the last year)?

18.
Are you single? Or if married, not happily married?

19.
Do you have any children at home less than three years old?

20.
Have you worked more than 60 hours overtime recently (in last 6
months)?

21.
Do you own your own business?

22.
Do you watch television more than 5 hours a day, as your only form of
entertainment?

23.
Do you have an inadequate support network (family/friends)?

24.
Have you gotten a speeding ticket in the last 3 months?

25.
Have you been arrested by the police for any reason in the last year?

26.
You don't belong to any church or attend only once-a-year.

27.
You haven't been on a two-week vacation in five years or more?

28.
Have you lost a spouse or a first-degree relative recently (last 6
months)?

29.
You don't own a pet (dog, cat, etc.).

30.
Do you live in a place where it snows heavily?

31.
Have you been investigated by the Federal Government in the last 6 months,
having hired an "illegal alien" to take care of your children?

Score

Interpretation

0-15

Your
life is a "bowl of cherries." You're not sufficiently
challenged.

16-30

Congratulations!You're well adapted (your risk-taking is
well calculated).

31-40

You
have an average ability to cope with stress.

41-99

You
are experiencing a high level of stress. It is important to get advice about
how to change your lifestyle or daily habits in order to diminish your rate
of stress-provoking events.

100-135

Your
life is a "veil of tears." It's time to move on to a new rose
garden.

What
to do if you need help? Visit your family doctor; seek qualified professionals
at your job, trusted clergy members, or health-care professionals at a mental
health center. [Note: The above test was derived in part from Pharmex, a
Division of ABP Co.]

Also,
try to reduce pathological bursts of Adrenaline and cortisol (the natural
stress hormones in the body) by avoiding routine emergency deadlines; Stress
constricts blood vessels and is known to cause Variant or Prinzmetal's
Angina (angina at rest with S-T elevation on EKG, as distinguished from the
more typical exertional form of angina pectoris with S-T depression).Long-term high concentrations of cortisol in
one’s blood are corrosive to all the tissues of the body.

We
all know that being the parent of a young child brings its share of
stress.Hurting your child is never a
long-term solution.The next time you
lose your patience, try some of these tips: Close your eyes, take a deep
breath, count to ten, and give yourself a time out.Think about why you are angry... Is it your
child’s fault or is your child a convenient target for your own
anger?Then, if it makes sense, put your
child in a time-out chair (one minute for each year of age).

A
significant area of "Type-A" stress for those who live in big cities
is the need for freeway driving.Go with
the flow (or lack of it)... Allow extra time to get from one place to
another.Whenever possible think of
public transportation.It is important
not to be frenetic in the car.Car
phones should be saved for emergencies rather than something to do while you’re
driving.Don’t tail gate.Pick one lane and stay there.Treat the gas and brake pedals as gently as
you would treat a fine crystal wine glass. And this is the toughest rule of
all: Ignore drivers who cut you off or are otherwise rude.Their accident rate will always be higher
than yours.

Sound
sleep is just as important as exercise in reducing stress levels and
maintaining your diurnal rhythms.Try to
avoid worry (or arguments) at the normal time of retiring.This leads to insomnia, as you endlessly
rehearse your moves and countermoves, or even premature awakening, like at 5:00
AM.Time spent in REM (Rapid Eye
Movement) sleep is much more beneficial for one’s mental health, and sleeping
pills interfere with the REM ratio.Use
melatonin or even alcohol (a double shot of whiskey) before using a
barbiturate.Get at least seven hours
(there are individual differences, of course) to avoid sleep deprivation (the
Exxon Valdez effect).Try to get up and
go to sleep at the same time each day, (I know this is hard) even on weekends
[76].Excessive snoring (airway
obstruction leading to turbulent flow) may be a symptom of sleep apnea, which
is disastrous for blood/brain oxygenation and needs the professional evaluation
of a sleep research center with oximeter and EEG monitoring.Bright-light therapy before bedtime and on
awakening is important for nursing home patients or anyone who shows signs of
depression.It is a myth that the
elderly always sleep worse than their younger counterparts.If you look at older adults who are very
healthy, they rarely have sleep problems.Those patients with a sleep impairment called fragmented sleep [intermittent disruptions of 3 to 10 seconds]
secondary to back pain, arthritis, sleep apnea, chronic urinary problems,
Restless Leg Syndrome, or whatever, impairs pain pathways for the entire next
day making the subject much more sensitive to pain and consequently much more irritable.
[131]

Don't
be deceived by the wide array of mercenaries and quack practitioners who exist
everywhere, both historical and contemporary. There was a time in the 1930s
when it was fashionable to drink Radium in distilled water as a
therapeutic agent!Really?See Ref. [34]

In
their recent book opposing the untoward practices of our modern health food
industry, Drs. Barrett and Herbert define a quack as anyone who
fraudulently pretends to medical skills they do not possess.They distinguish among three types: dumb
quacks (ignorant), deluded quacks (self-righteous, true believers), and
lastly dishonest quacks (genuine con artists, confidence men, swindlers,
mountebanks, or grifters).Then, they go
on to outline thirty ways to spot a quack, including (1) exclusive reliance on
anecdotes and testimonials in support of extravagant claims; (2) display of
unrecognized credentials; (3) claims that they are persecutedby orthodox medicine or that their work is suppressed
because it is controversial; (4) intimidation of their critics due to threats
of law suits or litigation;(5)
encouragement of patients to use their political support to publicize their
treatment methods; and (6) charismatic individuals capable of exploiting any
"placebo effect" to the maximum advantage.(See Chapter 2 of Ref.
[30]).

In
the 1940s, Cellular Therapy (injections of fetal lamb tissues) was
promoted by Dr. Paul Niehans, based on testimonials from the rich and famous,
despite the fact that no credible scientific evidence was ever provided that it
worked. In the 1950s, Anna Aslan, a Rumanian physician, evangelized the miracle
drug Gerovital H3 [41], whose active ingredient was nothing more
than procaine (the routine local anesthetic that dentists use to numb
your jaw before drilling into a bad tooth). Their disciples continue to
proselytize these frauds even today [2, 23].For example, it has been suggested that the metabolism of procaine into
its intermediate constituents (PABA [ParaAminoBenzoic Acid] and DEAE
[DiEthyl-Amino Ethanol] ) may explain its alleged
benefits, although DEAE, and its cousin DMAE to which it may metabolize, can
hardly have all of the affects that are attributed to Gerovital.

Shops
in Singapore, Hong Kong, Macao, Taipei, Seoul, and elsewhere in the orient do a
brisk business in rhinoceros horns.For
poachers, a pound of horn can fetch upward of $10,000.Folk tradition dating back thousands of years
asserts that the horn, when ground into a fine powder, can cure a variety of
ills, promote longevity, and eliminate sexual impotence.Where did this bizarre idea come from?The mystique of the rhino is based, in part,
on the size of the male genitalia and the vigor with which these two-ton
animals copulate, beginning with an orchestrated horn-butting ritual that
appears to resemble combat.

In
Houston, Dr. Stanislaw R. Burzynski, a 53 year old Polish-born physician,
defends himself against the academic medical establishment, the FDA, and
various medical insurance providers on the grounds that ACopernicus,
Galileo, and Pasteur were persecuted by ignorant contemporaries when they
challenged the traditional assumptions of their day.@However, his antineoplaston theory of
cancer begs the question of mechanisms when talking superficially about Abiochemical
microswitches that derepress cancer genes@
when it is, in fact, based on a patented derivative of amino acids and small
peptides, for which there is no rigorous controlled animal or clinical trials
to support such claims.Although he has
treated 3,000 patients over 20 years, his successes are all poignant
testimonials from ardent supporters who treat him as a folk hero.There is no mention of the expected number of
spontaneous remissions that should be observed in this population after no
intervention whatsoever.Sometimes, for
reasons not fully understood, the immune surveillance system suddenly Awakes
up@ after the patient’s tumor mass exceeds a critical threshold and Acures@ him
or her, in spite of, rather than because of, the aggressive radiation and chemotherapeutic
treatments provided by unwitting oncologists.Be wary also when you are told in response to this sort of objection
that traditional clinical trials will be "getting under way soon."
You could be finessed, as I was years ago in 1972 by the master spoon-bending
prestidigitator Uri Geller.

The
argument against the FDA that they are allegedly protecting the interests of
giant international pharmaceutical companies at the expense of promising new
treatments sounds familiar, and was echoed by the AIDS-patient community not
too long ago.The counter argument is
that "Dr. Burzynski is preying on the desperation of the terminally
ill." The good doctor has grossed $40 million from 1988 to 1994 based on
his proprietary treatment regimen.True
to form, he claims that "if he is put out of business by the State or
Federal authorities, his patients will be the ones sentenced to suffer and
die-- not him."

Another
discredited cancer cure is known as Laetrile, amygdaline, or sometimes VitaminB-17 and is found
in apricot pits.It contains
approximately six percent cyanide, an extremely toxic substance. Thus, taking
excessive amounts of this compound can be dangerous, and if used improperly,
can be fatal. The main medical criticism commonly directed at laetrile is that
patients with potentially curable cancer may choose to take laetrile while
avoiding conventional treatments, waiting until it is too late to gain benefit
from an effective therapy.

Following
in the tradition of spiritual healers and religious crusaders like Tilden,
Swaggart, Jim and Tammy-Faye Baker, Oral Roberts, various so-called
"psychic surgeons," and so on, the latest in this series of
evangelical healers is The Rev. Benny Hinn of the World Outreach Center, a
Ministry based in Orlando, Florida but which is really a traveling road show
filling sports arenas with the faithful in all parts of the country.Visually-dramatic on-stage swooning and
physical collapse on cue of those who are allegedly healed by a
"touch-of-the-master" lends an aura of mystique about this religious
promotion for profit.

The practitioners of homeopathy
claim to use only natural substances-- raw bovine testicles, crushed honey
bees, Belladonna, cadmium, sulfur, mercury, gold, poison nut (nux vomica),
hemlock, silica, monkshood, salt, mountain daisy, venom of the Bushmaster
snake, arsenic, Spanish fly, rattlesnake venom, dog milk, poison ivy, and more.
Some of these substances are harmless, while others obviously can be quite
toxic (depending on the dose).However,
the method of dilution proposed by these practitioners leaves the
concentrations of all of these substances (harmless or toxic) at less than one
atom (or molecule) per therapeutic dose. If there is no active ingredient
remaining at the molecular level (except perhaps for the spiritual memory of
the original substance) can there be a rigorous cause-and-effect relationship
between therapy and symptoms? The counter-argument of homeopathy is that there
have been millions of satisfied patients over the last 200 years, and they
should not be obliged to meet the standards of modern scientific medicine. On
the other hand, extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence. A miracle,
by definition, violates the laws of physics. A miraculous cure is probably not
a miracle at all. If something seems too amazing to be true, it probably isn't.
Our demand is that claims of diagnosis and cure be reproducible and supported
with good empirical evidence, even if a model-based explanation for the
phenomenon in question has not yet been worked out. Homeopaths are seductive in
their approach, but they are charlatans nevertheless, as much as astrologers,
numerologists, phrenologists, palm readers, and dowsing - all clear examples of
pseudoscience. [87]

Among
the strongest possible treatments of all medical interventions is the
"power of suggestion," especially suggestion by a white-coated
charismatic evangelist surrounded by disciples and previously-cured minions
with an associated "system of hocus pocus" (astrology,
numerology, palmistry, phrenology, take your pick).A cute example of this is in weight-reduction
treatments for the overweight.It is
naive to imagine that a proposed diet, untested against external controls,
really works just because the scale shows that the patient has lost
weight.It turns out that all obese
patients lose weight when you simply tell them that they will, at least
for a few weeks before they gain it back again.So the proper delta of comparison should not be the "initial
weight," but must always be with respect to a sufficient number of
external placebo controls, in evaluating a hypothetical treatment
scientifically.

Let
me conclude by giving just one more modern example: According to Forbes
Magazine author/lecturer/physician Deepak Chopra, mentor to Michael Jackson
and rage of the "New Age," has so far earned more than $3 million
selling books, mail-order audiotapes, oils, and herbal preparations. Chopra
boasts, “I’m 47 chronologically, but 25 biologically” in his in-depth course on
"Quantum Healing," based on his best-selling book AgelessBody,
Timeless Mind: The Quantum Alternative to Growing Old [35]. His lectures typically cost $119 for an
all day seminar for 400 persons, where you will learn that "if you
selectively breathe through your left nostril, you'll open up your
right-brain thinking... The mind is in all the cells of our body; you
cannot localize the mind in the brain." Dr. Chopra has recently persuaded
the NIH to grant his new Institute for Human Potential and Mind/Body Medicine $30,000
to study "Ayurvedic Medicine." Stay leery of"proofs by
testimonial."Enough said about
charlatans.

62.Alternative Medicine: Expanding Medical Horizons,
A Report to the NIH on Alternative Medical Systems and Practices in the United
States (Workshop on Alternative Medicine, Chantilly, Virginia; September
14-16, 1992)(U.S. Government Printing Office;
Washington, D.C.; 1995).

85. &nbs
p;
Karlis Ullis and Greg Ptacek, Age Right: Turn Back the Clock
with a Proven Personalized Anti-Aging Program (Simon and Schuster, New
York; 1999).

86.L. Stephen Coles and David Steinman, Nature's
Ultimate Anti-Cancer Pill: The IP-6 with Inositol Question and Answer Book: How
to Use Nature's Ultimate Anti-Cancer Pill for the Prevention and Treatment of
All Forms of Cancer (Freedom Press; Topanga, California; 1999).

103. Donald B. Louria, "Second Thoughts on Extending Life-Spans:
Researchers Are Making Great Strides in Extending the Boundaries of Human
Aging, But the World May Not Be Ready for an End-of-Life Population
Explosion," The Futurist, Vol. 36, No. 1, pp. 44-48
(January-February 2002).

After
more than ten years of publication, we regret that Longevity Magazine
has ceased its publication.Longevity
Digest likewise.

APPENDIX D.PERSONAL COMPUTER SOFTWARE

1.Dr. Walford’s
Interactive Diet Planner (2 floppy disks)

The Longbrook Company

1015
Gayley Avenue, Suite 1215

Los
Angeles, CA 90024

http://www.walford.com

Telephone:
310-392-8208

E-mail:
71510.2431@compuserve.com

2.Diet Analyst for Windows
($29)

Personal
Chef 2.0 for Windows (Electronic Cook Book)($29)

Medical
Drug Reference 3.0 for Windows ($19)

References
for more than 8,000 Prescription and OTC Drugs

Home
Remedies for Windows ($29)

Parsons
Technology, Inc.

1
Parsons Drive

Hiawatha,
Iowa 52233-0100

http://www.parsonstech.com

Telephone:
319-395-9626

3.Food Label Analyzer on CD-ROM ($5.00
before July 17, 1996)

Ohio
Distinctive Software

4588
Kenny Road

Columbus,
Ohio 43220

Telephone:
614-459-0453

4.Personal Fitness Trainer (for
DOS)

Weider/Digital
Research Systems

Telephone:
619-695-3598

5. BodyCraft (Individualized Workout and Diet
Programs)

AlphaSport Software

Telephone:
619-457-7773

APPENDIX E.HEALTH RISKS TRAVELING ABROAD

If
you are concerned about health risks while traveling abroad and have access to
a FAX machine, call the CDC at 404-332-4565, 24-hours a day, and they will FAX
back to you, free, within minutes, their index of documents covering current
health risks and prevention recommendations, suggested immunizations, disease outbreak
bulletins, and food or water precautions for 16 regions of the world.

Note:
The former President and CEO of Genox, Inc., Dr.
Richard G. Cutler, is now associated with the Kronos Longevity Research
Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. He has now retired to Virginia.

Attention:
Dr. Ronald Klatz, President

American
Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine

American
Longevity Research Institute

1510
West Montana

Chicago,
Illinois 60614

Telephone:
312-528-1000

Attention:
Dr. Christopher B. Heward, Ph.D.

Vice
President and Research Director

Emerald
Laboratories, Inc.

5933
Sea Lion Place, Suite 105

Carlesbad, California 92008

Telephone:
619-930-8078 or

3246
Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 203

Torrance,
California 90505

Telephone:
310-530-1732

[Dr.
Heward is now VP for Research and Development for The
Kronos Group in Phoenix, Arizona]

SpectraCell Laboratories$425 for profile of 19 nutrients and $500 for
antioxidants

515
Post Oak Blvd., Suite 830

Houston,
Texas 77027

Telephone:
713-621-3101

Aeron
Lifecycles

1933
Davis Street, Suite 310

San
Leandro, California 94577

Telephone:
1-800-631-7900

Diagnos-Techs, Inc.

Clinical
and Research Laboratory

6620
South 192nd Place, J-104

Kent,
Washington 98032

Telephone:
1-800-878-3787

Great
Smokies Diagnostic Laboratory

18
A. Regent Park Blvd.

Asheville,
North Carolina 28806

Telephone:
704-253-0621

National
Biotech Laboratory

13758
Lake City Way, N.E.

Seattle,
Washington 98125

Telephone:
1-800-846-6258

FAX:
206-363-2025

Liberty
Testing Laboratory

Brooklyn,
New York

MetaMetrix

Atlanta,
Georgia

Attention:
Dr. Charles Thomas, Jr., Director of Research

PANTOX
Laboratories

4622
Santa Fe Street

San
Diego, California 92109

Voice:
1-888-726-8698

It
costs $275 for a profile of 20 antioxidants (including SOD, Catalase,
Glutathione, and Folic Acid); it costs $55 extra for a homocystine level
to measure cardiovascular risk, since this test requires a special column
run.They have a data base of 4,000
blood samples analyzed to date; unfortunately, as yet, there is no large
national university medical-school database of typical levels for all healthy Americans
to compare with.Someday, if the tests
are automated and done in bulk, a full series should cost less than $100.In the meantime, hopefully, health insurers
will pay the bill.Note that Prof. Bruce
Ames, Dept. of Biochemistry at UC Berkeley is a member of their Board of
Directors.